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M.D. Hellmann



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    MO06 - NSCLC - Chemotherapy I (ID 108)

    • Event: WCLC 2013
    • Type: Mini Oral Abstract Session
    • Track: Medical Oncology
    • Presentations: 1
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      MO06.11 - A Phase II Trial of Paclitaxel, Pemetrexed and Bevacizumab in Patients with Untreated, Advanced Lung Cancers (ID 3142)

      17:15 - 17:20  |  Author(s): M.D. Hellmann

      • Abstract
      • Presentation
      • Slides

      Background
      Standard front-line treatment for patients with unresectable or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a platinum-based doublet with bevacizumab regimen, which achieves objective response rates (ORR) of 35% and median survival of 12 months. However, many patients with lung cancer are not eligible for cisplatin because of baseline neuropathy, hearing loss, renal insufficiency, or comorbid medical conditions. Although carboplatin is often substituted for cisplatin, it also is associated with similar toxicities, albeit with a smaller risk. This phase II trial of paclitaxel, pemetrexed, and bevacizumab was designed to avert the toxicities of platinum-based chemotherapeutic regimens and determine the efficacy of such a "non-platinum" containing doublet with bevacizumab.

      Methods
      Patients with untreated, advanced NSCLCs were enrolled if they had measurable disease (RECIST 1.0) and adequate organ and marrow function. Patients were excluded if they had squamous cell carcinoma; hemoptysis; symptomatic or hemorrhagic brain metastases; history of abdominal fistula, gastrointestinal perforation or intra-abdominal abscess; and myocardial infarction or stroke within 6 months prior to enrollment. For six 28-day cycles, patients received: paclitaxel 90 mg/m[2] (days 1, 8, and 15), pemetrexed 500 mg/m[2] (days 1 and 15), and bevacizumab 10 mg/kg (days 1 and 15). Patients with response or stable disease continued pemetrexed and bevacizumab every 14 days until progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients were evaluated on days 1, 8 and 15 of each 28-day cycle. To assess response, CT scans were performed after cycles 1 and 2, and every 2 cycles thereafter. ORR was the primary endpoint.

      Results
      Forty-four patients were enrolled: 50% women, median age of 59 years (range, 31 to 77), 89% with Karnofsky performance status ≥80%. Mutation status was known in 38 patients (KRAS, n=16; ALK, n=3; BRAF V600E, n =2; Her2 insertion/PIK3CA, n=1; EGFR Exon 20 insertion, n=1; none, n=15). The ORR was 52% (95% CI, 37-68), with 23 partial responses and no complete responses. The median overall survival and progression-free survival were 17 months (95% CI, 12-33) and 8 months (95% CI, 6-12), respectively. Grade 3/4 toxicities included fatigue (33%); elevated liver function tests (15%); leukopenia (9%); hoarseness (7%); nausea (7%); and anemia (7%). Two patients died on study of respiratory failure, possibly related to therapy. No bleeding events were noted.

      Conclusion
      The “non-platinum” containing regimen of paclitaxel, pemetrexed and bevacizumab is an effective first-line treatment for patients with advanced NSCLCs, regardless of mutational status. Long survival was observed, with acceptable toxicities. This regimen warrants further study.

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    O02 - NSCLC - Combined Modality Therapy I (ID 111)

    • Event: WCLC 2013
    • Type: Oral Abstract Session
    • Track: Combined Modality
    • Presentations: 1
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      O02.05 - Major pathologic response (≤10% viable tumor) following neoadjuvant chemotherapy as a surrogate for overall survival in patients with pathologically documented stage IIIA (N2) lung adenocarcinomas (ID 2345)

      11:15 - 11:25  |  Author(s): M.D. Hellmann

      • Abstract
      • Presentation
      • Slides

      Background
      Neoadjuvant chemotherapy improves overall survival in patients with resectable stage IIIA lung adenocarcinomas. The gold-standard endpoint for clinical trials evaluating curative therapies is overall survival. Unfortunately, these trials take nearly a decade to complete and this prolonged timeline hinders the approval of promising therapies in the curative realm. Alternative endpoints that can act as a surrogate for overall survival have been evaluated, including nodal downstaging, nodal clearance, and pathologic response. We evaluated the degree to which these endpoints associate with overall survival in patients with pathologically proven stage IIIA(N2) lung adenocarcinoma treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

      Methods
      An electronic database search engine was used to identify all patients with resectable stage IIIA(N2) lung adenocarcinoma treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center between 1/2007-8/2012. Nodal downstaging was defined as no residual tumor tissue in the N2 nodes. Nodal clearance was defined as no residual tumor tissue in N1 and N2 nodes. Pathologic response was systemically assessed by a dedicated thoracic pathologist (WDT) who reviewed at least 1 section per centimeter of greatest gross tumor diameter. The percent viable tumor tissue in each slide was estimated to the nearest 10%. Major pathologic response (MPR) was defined as ≤10% viable tumor tissue. All pathologic analyses were performed by a dedicated thoracic pathologist (WDT). Patients with residual N2 disease at resection were offered post-operative radiation and routinely monitored thereafter. Survival proportions were estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method and compared using the log-rank test.

      Results
      69 patients with pathologically confirmed IIIA(N2) disease were identified and 46 (67%) ultimately underwent R0 resection. Among these patients, 16 had nodal downstaging, 14 had nodal clearance and 5 had a MPR. In both intention to treat analyses (N=69) and including only those who underwent resection, only MPR significantly associated with overall survival. The table below details findings from the population who had complete cancer resection.

      Endpoint (N=46) Yes (A) No (B) NA (C) HR (95% CI) ITT (A vs B+C) HR (95% CI) Resected(A vs B)
      Nodal downstaging 16 30 23 0.68 (0.32-1.56) 0.73 (0.24-2.10)
      Nodal clearance 14 32 23 0.57 (0.27-1.36) 0.96 (0.32-2.81)
      MPR 5 41 23 0.28 (0.1-0.78) 0.26 (0.07-0.95)
      NA = not assessable; ITT = intention to treat

      Conclusion
      MPR (≤10% viable tumor) effectively identifies patients with good clinical outcomes after neoadjuvant chemotherapy and can serve as a surrogate endpoint for overall survival. Furthermore, lack of MPR identifies a patient population at high risk of recurrence. Neither nodal downstaging nor nodal clearance effectively discriminated those with improved survival. Adaptive clinical trials designed to target those not achieving MPR are encouraged in attempt to improve the rate of cure in this disease.

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